Yarn lever controlling mechanism



Jan. 20, 1953 l. H. c. GREEN ET AL 2,625,808

YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 19, 1951 i 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fka. 1,

L H. C. GREEN ET AL YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM Jan. 20, 1953 Filed Jufie 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wyn/7012s. [SA/9 cf! 6'. GREEM Jan. 20, 1953 1, QGREEN r 2,625,808

YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JIM/1:15? ,6. C255,

Jan. 20, 1953 1, c, GREEN ET AL 2,625,808

YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed June 19, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A l/M7025.- 1mm cf GREEN,

Jan. 20, 1953 1. H. c. GREEN ET AL YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 19, 1951 fzvr/szvz'ozs: [MACH a CREEM Patented Jan. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES T QFFICE 2,625,808 YARN LEVER CONTROLLING MECHANISM Isaac H. C. Green, Pawtucket, and Joseph Wawzonek, Central Falls, R. I., assignors to Hemphill Company, Pawtucket, R. I., a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 19, 1951, Serial No. 232,326

13 Claims.

- for circular, "in-dependent needle, knitting machines. Its primary object is a mechanism which provides a very much larger number of variations in the operation of yarn levers than are possible upon a standard circular, independent needle knitting machine. Such an expanded yarn lever control is essential for knitting numerous varieties of patterned hosiery for which the mechanisms of the usual types of machine are entirely inadequate.

One type of yarn lever control embodying this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

'Fig. 4 is a view on a larger scale of certain parts of the mechanism; and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are expanded views of certain other parts also on a larger scale.

As shown in Fig. 1, there are provided eight yarn levers 1-8 each capable of vertical pivotal movement in the usual manner. Each of these yarn levers is operated by a similarly mounted lever of which there are eight numbered 9-l6. One end of each of these lever-s underlies a yarn lever, as best shown at I! in Fig. 3, so that, when its end which is associated with the yarn lever is raised by depressing the other end, the yarn lever will be raised out of action. At other times, the yarn lever will be in its down or yarn feeding position.

The levers 9--l6 are rocked by a corresponding series of rockers l8 to 25,-an end of each of which overlies the inner end of a lever. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the end 26 of rocker 25 overlies the inner end 21 of lever l6. The other end of each of rockers Hi to 25 overlies a drum 28 pro vided with a series of rows of cams by which the rockers can be operated. In the machine being described, there are eighteen cams 29-45 inelusive. Each of these rows of cams is capable of operating a rocker and each cam may consist of a complete circle around the drum or they may be sectional. In the former case, a rocker which is aligned with one of the cam rows will :simply ride upon it without changing its position with the result that a yarn lever with which it is associated will be maintained in raised position. In the latter case, the rocker will ride upon the oam row to keep its yarn lever raised and then, when the end of a camis reached, will drop to the surface of the drum and will permit its cam lever to swing down into yarn feeding position, unless it is prevented from doing so by other means.

As shown in Fig. 2, drum 23 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 4! so that it can move longitudinally of the shaft. In Fig. 2, drum 28 is positioned to the right. It is held there by a cam 48 acting against the resistance of springs 49.

If cam 38 is turned so that its flat surface 56' (Fig. l) is opposed to drum 28, the drum will be moved to the left by springs 29 a distance equal to the width of one of the cams 294B. As a result of this, rockers l8-25 will be positioned above the drum cam rows to the right of those upon which they are shown in Fig. 1. In consequence of this, two different types of operation of each of these levers can be obtained or, if desired, each lever can be rendered inoperative with its associated yarn lever out of action. Therefore, by means of drum 28 alone, a very considerable number of different modes of operation for each of the yarn levers can be obtained.

The operating means by which the position of drum 28 is determined is shown in part at Fig. 2. Cam 48 is mounted on a shaft 5| rotatably mounted in a suitable bracket 52. A crank 53 is attached to shaft 5| and is connected by a rod 54 to a bell crank 55. The connection 56 to the other end of bell crank 55 extends to any suitable operating mechanism, such, for example, as a rocker and a cam drum (not shown). This mechanism is so arranged, of course, that cam 48 will be operated at the desired time either to move drum 28 to the right or to permit springs 49 to move it to the left as already described.

Another controlling means for certain of the yarn levers is also provided by this invention. In the form of the machine being described, rockers l8 and i9, 22 and 23 and, in consequence, yarn levers I, 2, 5 and 6 are subject to this additional control. A shaft 51 is suitably mounted above rockers l825, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. Pivoted on this shaft are rockers 58 and 59. These are similar to the other rockers already described with the exception that rocker 58 is provided with a pin 60 which projects through a slot 6! in rocker l8. In the set-up being described, this rocker lies beyond the end of drum 28 as shown in Fig. 1. However, there. are fixed to the end of drum 28 a small cam or earns 62 (Fig. 2) with which rocker 58 isen'gageableto produce a movement similar to that of the other rockers. By this arrangement, rocker l8 which normally is controlled by cam'row 30 maybe controlled in whole or in part by rocker 58.

The other rocker 59 (Figs. 1 and 7) similar to rocker 58 is also pivoted on shaft 51 and is provided with a similar pin 63 which projects through a slot 69 in the end of rocker l9. As shown in Fig. 1, rocker 59 rides upon cam 29 and, in consequence, rocker I 9 can be made to move in accordance with the set-up of rocker 59 unless it is riding upon a cam of row 32 in which case, of course, the action of rocker 59 would be nullified.

In a similar manner, control of rockers 22 and 23 can be taken over by levers 65 and 96 which may be operated in a similar manner to levers 53 and 59. As shown in Fig. 1, rocker 65 is beyond the end of drum 28 and, since there are no cams fastened to this end of the drum, rocker 65 would be inoperative and the control of lever 23 would remain in cam 58. Lever 66, which is riding upon drum cam 48, is connected to rocker 22 in the same manner as the others which have been described. Consequently, control of lever 22 can be taken over by rocker 66 whenever cam row 38 permits it.

If drum 28 is shogged to the left, as already described, rockers 58, 59, 65 and 66 become repositioned. Specifically, rocker 59 is now in line with cam row 29 and, consequently, may be operated by that cam row and rocker 58 is now subject to control by cam row 98 (Fig. 1). Rockers 85 and 66 are off drum 28 and, consequently, inoperative. It will now be seen that rockers l8 and I9, 22 and 23 can be controlled by their own drum cams or by other drum cams through the agency of rockers 58 and 59, 65 and 85 so that the scope of the yarn lever control is increased again,

In addition to the above, rockers 58, 58, 65 and 68 can be moved bodily with shaft 51. As already stated, rockers 58 and 59 are pivoted on shaft 51. Their longitudinal position is determined by collars 61 and 68 adjustably afiixed to shaft 51 which is slidably mounted in suitable brackets 69 and). Consequently, if shaft 51 is moved to the left, the cam rows withwhich rockers 58 and 58 are aligned will be changed. As shown in Fig. 2, rockers 58 and 59, 65 and 68 and drum 28 are positioned to the right. By moving shaft 51 to the left, levers 58 and 59 will be shifted to the cam row to the left and the control of rockers I8 and I9 correspondingly altered.

Rockers 65 and 66 are mounted upon a sleeve 11 slidable upon shaft 51 and means is provided for moving this sleeve and the rockers upon shaft 51, As already stated, rockers 65 and 66 are also in their right position.-- They can be moved to the left a distance equalto the Width of one cam row of drum 28 so that the control of rockers 22 and 23 can be altered.

The means for moving rockers 58 and 59 with shaft 51, as described, is entirely separate from the means for similarly moving rockers 65 and 66. In consequence, rockers 58 and 59 can be moved independently of rockers 65 and E6 and vice versa. Also, of course, they can be moved at the same time in the same direction or, if positioned so as to permit it, can be moved in opposite directions, At the same time, it is possible to move drum 28 tothe right or left as the case may be. Obviously, a multiude of different types of yarn lever controls are thus made possible depending upon the positions given to drum 23 and levers 58, 59, 65 and 66.

The longitudinal movement of shaft 51 may be obtained by any desired means. The means shown in the drawing consists of a rocker 12 so associated with a drum 13 that one end 14 will ride upon the surface 15 of the drum or upon a cam or cams 16. To the other end of rocker 12 is pivoted one end of a link 11, the other end of which is pivoted to a crank 18 fixed to a shaft 19.

Another crank 88 is fixed to shaft 19 and is provided with a hole through which a pin 8| projects. Pin 81 is fixed to a collar 82 which in turn is fixed to shaft 51. Adjacent the other end of shaft 51 is a rotatable shaft 51' carrying a lever 83 (Fig. 1), one end of which is provided with a hole through which a pin 84 projects. Pin 84 is fixed to a collar 85 which in turn is fixed to shaft 51. Shaft 51 also carries a lever 83' from the outer end of which a spring 86 extends to some rigid part of the machine so that it will exert a swinging movement to shaft 51, as will be described.

From the above, it will be evident that when the end 14 of rocker 12 rides up onto a cam, such as 16, crank 89 Will be swung to the right and shaft 51 will be moved to the right against the resistance of spring 86. It will also be evident that, when rocker 12 moves onto the surface 15 of drum 13, shaft 51 will be moved to the left by a spring 86 and lever 83.

A somewhat similar mechanism is employed for shifting sleeve 11. As best shown in Figs. 1 and i, a rocker 81 similar to rocker 12 is so positioned that one end will ride either upon surface 15 of drum 13 or upon a cam or cams 88. To the other end of rocker 81 is pivoted a link 89 to the other end of which fixed a stud 98. A so affixed to stud 88 is one end of a crank 9| to the other end of which is brazed a collar 92. Collar 92 surrounds a shaft 83 and is fixed thereto by a set screw so that any movement of rocker 81 will be transmitted to shaft 93. Also, affixed to shaft 83 is another crank, 94 provided with a hole through which a pin 95 extends. Pin 95 is fixed in a collar 96 which, in turn is fixed to sleeve 1|. A spring 91 extends between stud 98 and any suitable anchorage on the machine, such as When rocker 91 is riding on a cam, such as 88, sleeve 1| will be positioned to the right against he resistance of spring 91. When rocker 81 drops from a cam onto the surface 15 of drum 13, which is insured by spring 91, sleeve 1| will be shifted to the left. In this way, the rockers associated with shaft 51 and sleeve H can be moved either to the right or left at any desired time and in any desired relation, as already explained.

Drum 13 is also employed to control still another yarn lever controlling mechanism. This mechanism is, in general, the'subject of pending application #191,385 filed October 21, 1950, but here it is used in combination with the other yarn controlling mechanism described above. As will be best seen from Figs. 1 and 1, it consists of a rockable shaft I01 upon which may be mounted any desired number of fingers. In Fig. 1, four are shown at 182, I83, I94 and I95. These fingers are positioned upon shaft i8! so as to overlie certain of the rockers which ride upon drum 29. As shown, these fingers overlie rockers 28, 2!, 2 3 and 25 and are so proportioned that, when shaft 191 is rocked so that fingers i82 5535 project downwardly, they will depress the rockers just inentionedso that they will not be operated by cams on drum 28 and so that the corresponding yarn lovers 3, 1, 1 and 8 will be.

raised and held out of action. At other times, fingers 182-185 are inoperative so that these yarn levers can be controlled by other means.

It will be realized, offcourse,v that any desired number of fingers maybe used and that they may be positioned so asto control the operation of any desired yarn levers and that they also may be so arranged around shaft IOI that cer tain of them may be caused to operate at different times than others.

The rocking of shaft IN is accomplished by a rocker I06 so pivoted that one end I01 will ride either upon the surface of drum I3 or upon a cam or cams, such as I00. When rocker I06 is riding upon the surface of a cam I08, its other end I will be swung clockwise. The connection between rocker I06 and shaft IOI is a pin .I.I0 engageable with the end I09 of the rocker. This pin projects from a collar III attached to shaft IIlI. When rocker I06 is riding upon the surface "I of drum 13, its end I09 will be swung away from pin IIO which will allow the pin and shaft IOI to rock in a clockwise direction. Contact between pin H0 and rocker I06 is maintained by a suitable spring (not shown) acting upon shaft IOI. When the end I01 of rocker I06 rides up onto a cam, such as I08, its other end I09 will be swung in a clockwise direction and shaft IOI will be swung counterclockwise. In the arrangement shown in the drawing, blocks I02-I05 become operative when rocker I06 rides up onto a cam I08. When the rocker is riding upon surface of drum 13, the fingers I02-I05 become inoperative. As already stated, these fingerscan be positioned as desired to operate at any desired time.

In the machine being described, drum I3 is mounted on an extension 99 of a pattern drum I00 and is operated by the mechanism which operates the pattern drum. This is a desirable arrangement because the pattern drum may be turned by means of a drum on the same shaft as drum so that the timing between the pattern mechanism and the yarn lever controls operated by drum 13 can be absolutely accurate.

A drum for this purpose is shown at H2 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As already stated, drum H2 is mounted on the same shaft as drum 20. On the side of drum I I2 are mounted two rollers II3. A rocker II4 is so pivoted as at II5 that, when drum H2 is rotated, rollers II3 will cause it to rock. The lower end of rocker H4 is attached to a pawl II6 associated with a ratchet IIi affixed to the pattern drum whereby the pattern drum may be ratcheted around. This turning of the pattern drum will also cause a corresponding turning of control drum I3.

The machine being described is also provided with the yarn lever control mechanism common to most types of circular, independent needle, mitting machines. It is well known and, con sequently, is shown only diagrammatically in Fig. 3. The levers 9 to IS, which are intermediate the yarn levers and the rockers Iiiare connected singly or in multiple by wires to a drum or other mechanism whereby they are operated to move the respective yarn levers either into or out of yarn feeding position. Ordinarily, each wire and its associated mechanism is operated by an individual cam. This mechanism, identified in the drawings by the wire H8, is capable of removing any or all of the yarn levers out of action and free of all of the controls heretofore described and of permitting any or all of the yarn levers to become subject to any one or all of the controls heretofore described. Of course, if yarn levers are connected in multiple to a single wire,

these necessarily operate simultaneously. The

set-up in this respect is entirely, flexible and depends upon the work to be done.

' By way of summary, the mechanism of the invention involves a first means of operating yarn levers including the cam drum 28 and rockers such as l8, I9, 22, 23, and a second means for operating the same yarn levers including other rockers such as 56, 59, 65, 68, which are mechanically linked to the first mentioned rockers and adapted to follow other cam rows on the drum 28. Also, there is a yarn lever lockout means identified by fingers I02I 05 and another lock-out means identified by wire H0. It is evident that either one of the yarn changing means can affect the action of the other upon the yarn levers and can have no effect upon the action of either of the lock-out means but that either of the look-out means can affect the action of the other lock-out means and the action of either or both of the yarn changing means.

In the appended claims, the phrase "cam row is to be understood as meaning that portion of a drum surface with or without actual cams which is adapted to support a single rocker at a given time.

We claim:

1. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a rotatable drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row of said drum and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker.

2. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarnlever, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker and means for moving said other rocker from one cam row to another of said drum.

3. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker and means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means.

4. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which in cludes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker, means for moving said other rocker from one cam row to another of said drum and means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means.

5. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a rotatable drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, means for moving said drum to present a dinerent cam row to said rocker, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row of said drum and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker.

6. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, means for moving said drum to present a different cam row to said rocker, asecond means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker and means for moving said other rocker from one cam row to another of said drum.

'7. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, means for moving said drum to present a different cam row to said rocker, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker and means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means.

8. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine, a yarn lever, a first means for controlling said yarn lever including a drum having a plurality of cam rows, a rocker adapted to ride upon a cam row, yarn lever operating linkage between said rocker and said yarn lever, means for moving said drum to present a difi'erent cam row to said rocker, a second means for controlling said yarn lever which includes another rocker adapted to be operated by another cam row and connecting means between said first mentioned rocker and said other rocker whereby said first mentioned rocker may be operated by said other rocker, means for moving said other rocker from one cam row to another of said drum, and means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means.

9. The invention, as claimed in claim 2, and in which said last mentioned means includes a pattern drum and a cam drum integral therewith.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 4, and in which said means for moving said other rocker from one row to another of said drum and said means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means includes a pattern drum and a cam drum integral therewith.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 6, and in which said means for moving said other rocker includes a pattern drum and a cam drum integral therewith.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 8, and in which said means for moving said other rocker from one cam row to another of said drum includes a pattern drum and a cam drum integral therewith.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 8, and in which said means for excluding said yarn lever from control by said first and second means includes a, pattern drum and a cam drum integral therewith.

ISAAC H. C. GREEN. JOSEPH WAWZONEK.

No references cited. 

